Donated red blood cells vary in how old they are, that is, how long they have been stored since being collected from donors. Blood that has been donated is stored for a maximum of 42 days, after this time it is expired. That means that red blood cells that are given to patients as a blood transfusion can be anywhere from a few days old to 42 days old. The average age of blood that is given as a blood transfusion in this hospital is 21 days old.

As stored blood gets older its ability to carry oxygen may be reduced. Whether or not this is important in patients with a brain injury is not currently known.

The purpose of this study is to try and determine if fresh blood (less than 5 days old) is better than old blood (greater than 20 days old) in improving the supply of oxygen in patients who have suffered an injury to their brain.

This is a single centre randomized trial in severely head injured patients requiring a blood transfusion. Randomization will be by computer generated random numbers paced in sealed envelopes. Patients would be randomized to receive either blood less than 5 days old or greater than 20 days old. The decision to transfuse and all other intensive care management will be unaltered by enrolment in the study.

Hemoglobin < 100 g/L and decision has been made by Attending Physician to treat with one unit pRBC

Exclusion Criteria:

Age < 16

Ongoing need for blood products

Received Packed Red Blood Cells within preceding 24 hours

Multiple trauma necessitating ongoing resuscitation

Pregnant patients

Chronic renal failure

Severe sepsis or septic shock

Adult respiratory distress syndrome or acute lung injury

Presumed unstable neurological status during course of study

Lack of informed consent

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00141674